Wikipedia page about this book: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Opinions_de_M._J%C3%A9r%C3%B4me_Coignard

Gallica number: Notice n° : FRBNF32123902

Release date is 2006-09-10

Produced by Carlo Traverso, Eric Vautier and the Online Distributed Proofreaders Europe at http://dp.rastko.net. This file was produced from images generously made available by the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF/Gallica)

"Les opinions de M. Jérôme Coignard" by Anatole France is a fictional work written in the late 19th century. The book centers around the character of M. l'abbé Jérôme Coignard, a professor, a librarian, and a philosopher known for his witty observations on politics, morality, and human nature. Through a series of dialogues and reflections, the narrative explores themes of skepticism, the folly of mankind, and the complexities of faith and knowledge, highlighting Coignard's unique blend of liberal ideas rooted in his Catholic faith. The opening of the work introduces M. Jérôme Coignard and establishes his background as a learned yet disillusioned man who has encountered tragic experiences, foreshadowing his philosophical musings. A disciple named Jacques Tournebroche admires Coignard and recounts his teachings, which reflect a deep skepticism about human nature and society. Coignard's views on various subjects, including politics and religion, are outlined through lively conversations, particularly one with a bookseller where he critiques the roles of politicians. This initial setting paints a vivid portrait of Coignard's character and sets the stage for deeper explorations of his philosophical insights as the story unfolds. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Originally published: Paris ; C. Lévy ;, 1895